Floor waxer



March 12, 1968 c. H. M FARLAND 3,372,975

FLOOR WAXER Filed Aug. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 8 INVENTOR.

w \1 CHARLES a mcFARLAuo March 12, 1968 Filed Aug. 12, 1965 c. H. M FARLAND 3,372,976

FLOOR WAXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES H. MacFARLAND ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,372,976 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roller applicator for applying wax to a floor having a pair of hollow wax applying rollers supported on a non-rotating hollow axle, a combined handle and wax storage container mounted above the rollers, and a supply tube from the wax storage container to the hollow axle, through the hollow axle and into the chamber defined by each hollow roller.

This invention relates to a device for applying paste wax to a floor and, more particularly, to a roller applicator having combined handle and wax storing and feeding means for delivering paste wax to the roller applicator.

The invention contemplates the provision of porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting wax-applying roller means which are supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means. The

invention further contemplates a combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above the roller means and passage means which extend from the handle and wax storing and feeding means through the axle means to the roller means for conveying wax thereto. The roller means according to this invention comprise a pair of rollers on opposite sides of the combined handle and wax storing and feeding means.

The floor Waxer according to this invention has a compact and rigid construction which permits the uniform application of pressure to the wax applying rollers and the consequent uniform application of wax to the floor. There is provided a novel sealing means between the non-rotating hollow axle and the wax applying roller means to provide for rotation of the wax applying roller means and to prevent the leakage of wax between the rotating and non-rotating members.

The invention further contemplates a refill signal which indicates the need for supplying more wax to the wax storing portion of the handle and the provision of indicating means for the incremental expression of stored wax to the roller means.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 44 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a storage cover which encloses the rollers when the device is not in use.

Referring now to the drawings, a device for applying wax to a floor is illustrated. The device 10 includes a pair of porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting wax applying roller means 11. The device further includes a combined handle and wax storing and feeding means 12 above said roller means 11.

The feeding means 12 include a hollow handle which includes an upper section 13 telescoped over and in tight frictional engagement with a lower section 14. The upper section 13 may be provided with a plastic handle grip 15 and a ring hanger 16.

The lower handle section 14 has a lower end portion 17 which is flared radially outwardly. A spring washer 18 is provided on the flange formed by the outwardly flared portion 17. A bushing 19 surrounds the lower end of the handle section 14 but permits the handle section 14 to rotate within its bore. A sleeve 20 is fixed to the bushing 19 and has a projecting open end which is threaded onto a protruding neck portion 21 of a pressure cylinder 22.

The neck portion 21 has a threaded axial bore 22 and a vent opening 23 drilled therethrough. A recess 24 is drilled into the neck portion 21 and steel balls 25 are provided in the recess 24. The upper ball 25 engages a dished portion 26 on the lower face of the flared end 17 of the handle portion 14. The spring washer 18 biases the flared end of the handle portion 14 against the upper ball 25 so that upon rotation of the handle section 14 the upper ball 25 will ride along the face of the flared portion 17 and engage the dished portion 26. Thus, for a purpose that will hereinafter become apparent, the upper ball 25 engages the dished portion 26 each time the handle is rotated so that a click is felt and heard by the person rotating the handle.

There is provided a threaded feed rod 27 which is threadedly received in the axial bore 22 and which has a guide rod or locator 28 and projecting from one of its ends. The guide rod 28 has a square cross-section and is slidably received in a square passage: 29 provided in a guide block 30. The guide block 30 is pinned to the handle section 14 and permits axial movement of the guide rod 28 within the handle section 14 but prevents relative rotation of the members.

The other end of the feed rod 27 is fixed to a piston assembly 31. The piston assembly 31 includes a piston rod washer 32 which is brazed to the rod 27, a piston 33 which is fixed to the end of the feed rod 27 by the screw 34, and a piston seal ring 35 which is mounted on the piston 33. The piston seal ring 35 is molded from a stiflly flexible plastic material such as neoprene and has an annular groove 36 which engages the periphery of the piston 33. The periphery of the piston seal ring 35 forms a tight seal with the inner surface of the pressure cylinder 22 and has a lower annular face 27 which is sloped downwardly to form a wedge with the inner sidewall of the pressure cylinder 22.

The lower end of the pressure cylinder 22 is closed by an axle joint assembly 38. The member 38 has an upper cup portion 39 which is threaded unto the lower end of the pressure cylinder 22. A wax reservoir 40 is formed by the cup portion 39, the sidewalls of the pressure cylinder 22, and the piston assembly 31. With the piston assembly in the retracted position illustrated and with the axle joint assembly 38 unscrewed from the pressure cylinder, paste wax is charged into the reservoir 40. Preferably the paste wax is supplied as a measured charge of wax encased in a flexible container such as a polyethylene bag 41. Before the cup portion 39 of the axle joint assembly 38 is screwed unto the pressure cylinder 22, the exposed end of the bag 41 is cut.

The axle joint assembly 38 further includes a central distributing tube 42 having a passageway 43 therein which communicates with the reservoir 40. The lower end of the member 38 is provided with a transverse sleeve 44 comprising conically tapered bosses 45 each of which acts under load as a cantilever beam having a relatively heavy cross-section at its inboard or fixed end and a lighter cross-section at its outboard or free end. The sleeve 44 has a bore 46 which carries a hollow axle 47. The hollow axle 47 is provided with a central opening 48 which communicates with the passageway 43, Outlet passages 49 are provided near each end of the axle 47 and the ends of the axle are closed by axle screws 54 The axle 47 is held tightly in place within the transverse sleeve 44 by a set screw 51.

The roller means 11 are mounted for rotation on each projecting end of the axle 47. Each roller means 11 comprise a distributing spool assembly 52 and a hollow roller applicator tube 53 slipped over each spool assembly 52.

Each spool assembly 52 comprises an inboard portion 54 and an outboard portion 55. A rim of each inboard portion 54 telescopes over a cooperating rim of each outboard portion 55 to form the assembly 52. Each inboard portion 54 and each outboard portion 55 comprises a cylindrical perforated outer wall 56, conically tapered end wall 57, connecting webs or ribs 58, and a cylindrical hub portion 59. The tapered ribs 58 act as cantilever beams having relatively heavy cross-sections at their hub ends and lighter cross-sections at their outer free ends. The tapered bosses 45 of the member 38 nest within and complement the tapered ribs 58 of the inboard portions 54 of the spool assemblies 52, in a compact yet sturdy arrangement. A plurality of wax distributing chambers 60 are defined by the outer wall 56, the end walls 57, the con necting Webs or ribs 58, and the hub portion 59. Wax enters the chambers 60 from the axle 47 through the apertures 49 and then between the hub portion 59 of each inboard portion 54 and each outboard portion 55. The wax flows from the chamber 60 through a plurality of perforations 61 provided in each inboard spool 54 and a plu rality of perforations 62 provided in each outboard spool 55 Since each spool 52 is intended to rotate on the axle shaft 47, a slight clearance is provided between the shaft and each spool. Therefore, wax tends to flow along the interface between these members and provides lubrication between the axle 4-7 and each spool 52. In order to establish a seal at the ends of this interface and provide an adequate bearing surface, the inboard and outboard portions 54 and 55 are respectively biased against the ends of the transverse sleeve 44 and the face of the screw 50 by a compression spring 63. This arrangement results in an adequate bearing seal between each spool and the axle assembly so that close manufacturing tolerances are not required. Moreover, as the wax pressure in each chamber 60 is increased, the seal becomes tighter.

It should be noted that the spools 52 are mounted for independent rotation on the stationary axle shaft. This facilitates turning the waxer as the wax is a plied to the floor.

Each roller applicator tube 53 may comprise a porous material Which is deformable upon the application of pressure but which returns to its initial shape when the pressure is no longer applied. A suitable material for each tube 53 is an open cell polyurethane foam having a density of from to 6 pounds per cubic foot after reticulation and having about pores per inch. This material permits the Wax to be radially transmitted from the apertures 61 and at 62. Since the wax flow through each tube 53 is substantially radial, the wax does not tend to form beads at the ends of each roller assembly 11. If desired, however, a plastic sealant may be applied to the ends of each tube 53.

In order to apply wax to a surface, the reservoir 46 is charged with a paste wax in the manner previously indicated. The handle 14 is then turned until the wax appears on the surface of each roller applicator tube 53. When it appears that insufficient wax is being transmitted to the surface being waxed, the operator turns the handle until a click is heard or felt. The piston assembly 31 is therebycaused to exert a pressure on the wax which causes the wax to flow from each tube 53 uniformly and over a substantially long period of time because of the viscous nature of paste wax. The port 23 insures that a vacuum is not produced behind the piston assembly 31 as the piston assembly is advanced.

When the piston assembly 31 is advanced to the bottom of the reservoir 40 and the wax is substantially depleted, means are provided to indicate this fact. An opening 65 (FIG. 1) is provided in the handle portion 14 so that the end 6% of the feed rod 28 may be observed when the piston assembly 31 has been fully advanced. To facilitate visual observation of the end of the feed rod, the end 66 may be colored.

There is provided a cover 70 to seal the roller assembly 11 when the floor waxer is not in use. The cover assembly 70 includes telescoping cylindrical cups 71 and 72. Each cup has an indented end '73 which telescopes into the end of each roller assembly 11 to space the cover from the tubes 53 so that the tubes will not be flattened. The cup 72 is telescoped into the cup 71 and a bayonet type connection is provided between the tube 71 and 72. The end of the tube 72 is provided with a notch 74 which receives the distributing tube 42 of the member 38.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each and every one of the details described above, which have been set forth merely by way of example with the intent of most clearly disclosing the teachings of the invention, Obviously, devices may be provided which change, eliminate, or add certain specific details Without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a single pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely from said handle as cantilever beams, said beams having portions which taper from relatively heavy cross sections near said handle to lighter cross sections, said roller means having portions surrounding said tapered beam portions.

2. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a single pair of rollers mounted for independent rotation on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely from said handle as cantilever beams, said beams having portions which taper from relatively heavy cross sections near said handle to lighter cross sections, said roller means having portions surrounding said tapered beam portions.

3. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, and a pair of storage covers having the shape of cups removably positioned each over one end of said pair of rollers, with the mouths of said cups in contact to close off and cover said roller means.

4. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a single pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely from said handle as cantilever beams, means defining a wax distributing chamber for each roller means rotatably mounted on said hollow axle, each wax distributing chamber having an end portion, means providing fluid communication between said hollow axle and said wax distributing chamber, means defining fluid communication between said wax distributing chamber and its wax applying roller means, means to seal the interface between the axle and the end portion of each distributing chamber, said end portion of each chamber being movable with respect to the remainder of each wax distributing chamber, said sealing means including means biasing the end portion of the wax distributing chamber against portions of said axle.

5. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feeding means above said roller means, passage means ex tending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a single pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely from said handle as cantilever beams, means defining a wax distributing chamber for each roller means rotatably mounted on said 1101- low axle, each wax distributing chamber having an end portion, means providing fluid communication between said hollow axle and said wax distributing chamber, means defining fluid communication between said wax distributing chamber and its wax applying roller means, means to seal the interface between the axle and the end portion of each distributing chamber, said end portion of each chamber being movable with respect to the remainder of each wax distributing chamber, said sealing means including means biasing the end portion of the wax distributing chamber against portions of said axle, and said sealing means further including means responsive to the pressure of the Wax in the wax distributing chamber to effect said seal in response to the application of pressure to said wax.

6. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feed means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely from said handle as cantilever beams, said beams having portions which taper from relatively heavy cross-sections near said handle to lighter cross-sections, said roller means having portions surrounding said tapered beam portions, said surrounding portions being tapered inversely with respect to the surrounded tapered portions on said beams.

7. A device for applying paste wax to a floor comprising porous cylindrical hollow-cored floor-contacting waxapplying roller means, said roller means being supported on non-rotating hollow axle means that extend axially in said roller means, combined handle and wax storing and feed means above said roller means, passage means extending from said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means through said axle means to said roller means for conveying wax thereto, said roller means comprising a pair of rollers on opposite sides of said combined handle and wax storing and feeding means, said axle means extending transversely .fromsaid handle as cantilever beams, said beams having portions which taper from relatively heavy cross-sections near said handle to lighter cross sections said roller means having portions surrounding said tapered beam portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,901 8/1933 Anderson 15-562 X 2,478,318 8/1949 Bauby 15-27 X 2,627,620 2/1953 Gudze 15-562 2,761,167 9/1956 Bridgford 15-23011 X 2,881,461 4/1959 Parker 15-27 X 3,137,024 6/1964 Bemley 15-562 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,164,203 5/1958 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

